Side by side
Citizen vs Casio F-91W
Citizen
33 positive (89%) · 3 mixed (8%) · 1 negative (3%)
Trust + time weighted: +89%
AI summary — not a quote
Citizen is widely regarded as a highly respected, "every man" watch brand that offers exceptional value and technical depth. Often compared to Toyota for its reliability, the brand is praised for being a fully integrated manufacturer that produces all its own parts, ranging from affordable starter watches to high-end mechanical and solar-powered pieces.
Pros
- Excellent value-to-price ratio, frequently cited as a top choice for 'starter' watches
- Fully integrated manufacturing, producing all components in-house
- Highly reliable Eco-Drive (solar) technology and durable automatic movements
- Strong heritage and respect within the watch enthusiast community
Cons
- Marketing is often perceived as weaker than competitors, leading some to call the brand underrated
- Entry-level bracelet quality is sometimes viewed as merely average or on par with basic competitors
- Vast catalog means some models are significantly more desirable than others, requiring consumer research
Top excerpts
you can buy basically any modern automatic Seiko or Citizen and it would last that long. you're looking at $200 for something that will only require the same kind of maintenance that any automatic watch requires.
But, if you do, it will reward you with a seriously well crafted Japanese design
Thinking I buy a Citizen to hold onto for him until he’s ready.
To have the oil "dry up" and the watch stop in 5 years is ridiculous in a $500 mechanical Citizen (who offer a 5 year warranty) let alone something this expensive.
citizen is crushing the game in both affordable and high end categories. If there marketing was better, they'd be seen in the same light.
Casio F-91W
18 positive (90%) · 2 mixed (10%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +90%
Top excerpts
I have been rocking the Casio F91W for many years, and I love the minimalist design and solid functionality. Unfortunately, I seem to be tearing then up. They used to last a few years, but I've been doing more installation and retrofit work lately, and I just seem to be beating them up.
found an F-91W in a streambed. No strap. It was buried among little fist-sized rocks in the stream... It was scratched up from what seemed to be years of being gradually washed down the stream and ground against the Sierra Nevada granite. The next morning at 6am, its alarm went off in our tent. Amazing.
had the exact same one, my dad passed it down actually. sat in a junk drawer for like a decade before i found it again and just needed a new battery to bring it back.
I had one with a broken lug laying around so I taped it to my motorcycle that didn't have a digital dash. The bike always sat outside and I eventually sold it a year after, with the watch on it.
It's still my go to after a decade and half. Love this watch.